GSA to swap Fed Triangle properties for developers’ services

The General Services Administration is making progress on a project to consolidate about 1,500 staff members from regional buildings into its national headquarters office at 1800 F St. in Washington, D.C.

GSA is now seeking developers to provide construction services on the project. In exchange, GSA will give the developer two federally-owned properties: a GSA regional office building and the Cotton Annex. Both are located in Southwest Washington, D.C., and are part of an area known as Federal Triangle South.

In exchange for the properties, the private sector partner will restart the stalled renovations of GSA’s headquarters building and continue the consolidation of office space at the Homeland Security Department headquarters at the St. Elizabeths campus in Southeast Washington — a project that is long-delayed and over budget.

GSA issued a request for qualifications (RFQ) Monday detailing the initial requirements. Vendors have until April 17 to submit questions, and responses to the RFQ are due by May 22.

GSA expects the vendor to renovate and move employees into a 425,000 square foot space at its headquarters, and a 60,000 to 70,000 square foot space at DHS headquarters. The RFQ represents part 1 of a two-part process. Under part 1, GSA will determine which vendors are most qualified to move to stage 2. Then, contractors will submit specific exchange consideration services.

In December 2012, GSA dared developers to “think outside the box” when submitting ideas to redevelop and repurpose the FBI headquarters building and the Federal Triangle South parcel, which is comprised of four federal buildings housing 12,000 employees.

GSA says the vision for Federal Triangle South is part of the National Capital Planning Commission’s Southwest EcoDistrict goals to reduce spending and overhaul underperforming and outdated spaces.

GSA Administrator Dan Tangherlini said the project presents an opportunity to analyze how the government utilizes space within a surrounding community.

“This action will facilitate the city’s efforts to transform this precinct that is dominated by federal office buildings, into a mixed-use neighborhood that will both provide for a modern workplace for federal employees and create a vibrant, diverse, and special community of its own,” he said in a statement.